My friend Gina Fiedel from Santa Barbara texted me this photo she snapped while traveling through Bosque Farms, New Mexico. It so perfectly captures the “show, don’t tell” of what I’m forever trying to…

It has poured rain much of the night, with 10,000 flashes of lightning. We’re warned here in California the first time it rains after months and months of drought, all the oils which have…

I guess I would say if I am “working” on anything about myself these days that could fall under the entirely ethereal concept of “improvement” it is to be more spontaneous. To be spontaneous…

Last week it was all vultures. This week it’ll be all me – now as the blogger. I’ll share a secret. If you really show up here at fromamountainbench, look at each word, and…

…I read Chinese poetry, I create vows of genuine friendship with these vultues on my path, with sidewalk kitties, with blue jays on the Bob Jones Trail, and most supremely, with every elegant cow…

on Sunday morning when I set out on the Main Street of the Johnson Ranch trails I carried this as a goal – have an intimate conversation with one soaring, path-sharing vulture. The ancient…

often I am high enough that I’m above the vulture’s glide on the wind. I don’t think I ever see that without feeling thrilled. Yes, that’s flying, and what little kid doesn’t spread their…

the vulture’s call was like a hawk’s, just more throaty, less ethereal. A possible Chinese poem: “circling Vulture, expresses throaty.” And that was only one of the hundred sounds on this hike, different from…

I’d like to think I’ve become friends with the 10,000 vultures which soar and circle overhead when I walk out alone on sun-burnt hillside and mountain trails. “I may be gravitied down here, kids,…

This arrived in the mail Wednesday. Notes: (I’m 76 years old. I rent a room in a trailer. I work part-time on the front desk at the YMCA in San Luis Obispo, where I…